The tragedy of drug abuse

Many people have been lured into the dangerous world of drugs. Some of the biggest users (dead or alive) were probably introduced and then forced into it. Hardcore drugs like cocaine, heroin, LSD, Ecstasy and even alcohol have claimed the lives of so many. Tragically, most of these people had barley grown into becoming their true selves. There are stories about kids who ran away from home (for whatever reasons) only to be found later in a ditch somewhere –dead! The cause of death on countless occasions has been drug overdose or murder. These kids find themselves homeless and at the mercy of some big bellied if not anorexic drug using pimp. The saddest part is that for some reason, returning home is not an option. The streets become their residence and depending on how much substance is taken, they are literally capable of anything – including murder and suicide. Drugs of that nature leave you incapable of anything constructive. No matter how wasted a person is, they will still go out looking for more. That is why it is called addiction. As if that is not bad enough, they also put themselves at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. According to a site called Crime and Society, Rwanda has no significant drug- abuse or trafficking problem although police contacts suggest that the problem did amplify over the year. The main drugs at hand were cannabis (which are imported but apparently also grown in Nyungwe forest) and heroin. It also says that according to the sources, the users of these drugs have not grown up in Rwanda. The police believe that the drugs are being imported from Uganda and Congo and for the most part used by well-off urban youth. According to Orinfor (Rwanda Bureau of Information and Broadcasting), the Minister of Youth Nsengimana Philbert pointed out in a meeting that indecent practices such as drug abuse, drunken stupors, prostitution are the major contributors to the derailing of national development. The First Lady too, appealed to jurists to compose amendments on existing policies and rules and come up with new and effective ones aimed at preventing drug abuse among the Rwandan youth. Marijuana however, is more popular with the locals though it cannot be called a drug seeing as it is, as natural as they come. Plus its dangers have been highly embellished. Unlike alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, marijuana has its health recompense if not consumed excessively. Internationally, the entertainment industry in particular has seen the demise of some of its most celebrated people. Promising Aussie actor Heath Ledger was a tragedy beyond tragedies. He died because of multiple meds found in his system, some of which had fatal results if used at the same time. What seemed to be a suicide later turned out to be one man’s desperate attempt to take all the stress, insomnia, fatigue and whatever else was bothering him, away with a couple of pills. The late British singer Amy Winehouse constantly found herself in and out of rehabilitation centers enjoying on and off relationships with fellow crack head boyfriendex husband Blake Fielder. The latter (who people allege influenced the singer’s eye catching appearance) was an ex con. After mammoth criticism and bizarre predictions, she was found dead in her London flat after a suspected drug overdose. So much talent gone to waste and only at the age of 27! Legendary singer Kurt Cobain died of a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head under the influence of a potentially lethal dose of heroin with traces of diazepam, also at the age of 27! Supermodel Kate Moss almost lost her budding career after leaks of her cocaine escapades with boyfriend Pete Doherty leaked. And if our beloved Britney Spears hadn’t snapped out of it soon enough, she probably would have followed suit. That’s just a few of them but all over the world, abuse of drugs continues to take lives and it will prevail unless both the government and individuals join forces to do something about it. These are drugs with the power to take a life within seconds of its use. The fight starts with you. rachelgaruka@yahoo.co.uk